Honda 9.9 Four Stroke battery cable

Ross · Mar 18, 2009

Manny, Does that cable also carry the starter power? If so then the starter draw is the number you need to plan for.

Ross · Mar 18, 2009

I am hoping before the first of May.

Stephan · Mar 19, 2009

I did not see an extension kit from Honda, but there is one from Mercury or you can build your own. Not a good idea to simply splice a longer length in on a battery cable.

Hope that helps

Stephan

sailingdog · Mar 19, 2009

Manny—

Without the total length of the run, you can not determine what gauge the wire should be. It should be calculated by the amperage load and desired voltage drop for the given distance.

jackhartjr · Mar 19, 2009

Not being smart here...I would put a bbiigg cable on it and not worry if it is enough!
Jack

Ross · Mar 19, 2009

The price difference between gages is just a few cents per foot.

peterbud · Mar 19, 2009

Stephan said:
I did not see an extension kit from Honda, but there is one from Mercury or you can build your own. Not a good idea to simply splice a longer length in on a battery cable.

Hope that helps

Stephan

Stephan if you donot have the eletric start there is an accessory extension cable it is part #
32530-ZW9-025AH
It is listed at hondamarine.com under accessories.

Stephan · Mar 19, 2009

Thats a Wiring Harness, not a battery cable

peterbud said:
Stephan if you donot have the eletric start there is an accessory extension cable it is part #
32530-ZW9-025AH
It is listed at hondamarine.com under accessories.

Thanks Peterbud, but that is a Main Wire Harness for a Control Box. Not an extension cable for a battery hook-up.

Per Honda's rigging guide: Up to 30' they say use #6 strand wire. I would advise that you use four gauge for up to 30', because it won't hurt. For over 30' Honda suggests #4.

Typically, your would wire the cable that comes with the motor (about 6') to a Battery Distribution Stud (BEP Marine, Blue Sea, etc) and then wire from that terminal with the cable you make up, to the battery.

Stephan

Ron20324 · Mar 19, 2009

Manny, go back to basics and look up an amp/wire size table like in West (P283) or elsewhere. You want the least amount of loss since it's a charging circuit. 12 volts/12 feet/12 amps equalls a 12-guage wire if you read West or the Boatowner's Illustrated Electrical Handbook. That is probably smaller than the wire on your motor, so a bumpup to 10 guage sounds right. Stephan's battery stud is a must-do, and a fuse as close to the battery as you can get it. Unfortunately (just looking in West) I don't see an in-line fuse holder for 10 guage, and going with 12 guage may be the way to use such a fuse. Of course there are other fuse holders, but you probably can not get a small 15/20-amp fuse- which I assume you will use. Maybe someone else might have a source, though. On my B323 they used a large cable for the long charger runs, then stepped down the wire size so they could use a suitable fuse holder.

Benny · Mar 19, 2009

Like others have said, figure out the starter AMP draw and the round trip length of the wires from starter to battery and go to a table and get the recommended gauge. A #3 gauge would probably do the trick but if you can get by with a #4 or #6 that would be cheaper and easier to run.

Auspicious · Mar 22, 2009

My Honda 9.9 w/ electric and pull start, 12A alternator has about 5' of 6 gauge cable on it. According to Honda America, there is no damage to the alternator running without the battery attached.

It's a great engine, but a bit heavy.

caguy · Mar 22, 2009

The warning is on the older Hondas, and could probably apply here, if the altenator is hooked up while the motor is running it could damage the charging unit. In your case the battery cable is always attached.

Stu Jackson · Mar 22, 2009

Ron's right, use the wiring sizing table

to at least compare the wire you may get with the DISTANCE it has to run on YOUR boat. Nothin' wrong with checkin' it out, is there? We just don't know how they size their wiring harness "package," do we? If it was my boat, and MY new engine, I'd check. That's what Manny's original question was.

The Honda website says the alternator is rated for 6 amps output, but the detailed specs say it can go to 12A at 3000 rpm. Check the wiring size out carefully. Got nothin' to lose... Manny did say 12A output in his original question, so he's right about the output amperage.

I checked the Honda website, and unlike their generator section, they do NOT provide owner's manuals for their outboard engines, at least I didn't find it as easily as I did for the generators yesterday when I was lookin' (which required you to hit the BUY button first as I recall).

The reason is that I was trying to find out if there is validity to the issue of whether or not the engine can be run without the alternator connected without harming the alternator. Most alternators cannot be run without damage without being connected to a load.

I recommend that you CAREFULLY check the manual BEFORE you run the engine (and the alternator) without wiring it to the battery. It could well be something as easy as the instructions saying something like: "Do NOT run the engine with an alternator without connecting the option battery wiring harness." I just do not know.

Perhaps someone with a newer specific Honda engine like yours can report on this. If not, I recommend that you go to the Catalina 25 Association website forums (http://www.catalina-capri-25s.org/forum/) and ask over there - they are VERY good with outboard engine information as it's their main propulsion and they have lots of experience and are willing to share. Easy to sign up and join them there.

Manny, otherwise, there's enough conflicting information on this thread that I would not depend on. Nothin' personal guys, but it's gonna be his engine, his $, and it should work right for him.

caguy · Mar 22, 2009

I stand corrected re-read the manual and there is no warning there about connecting and reconnecting the alternator while the motor is running. I swear I read it somewhere.
Stu is right there is a lot of good info including how to lay your motor down for storageand transport.
The manuals are available at in down loadable pdf formats fror free, and printed for purchase at:
http://www.honda-marine.com/owners/OwnerManuals.aspx

BTW They also have the shop manual available for order for $36.

Stu Jackson · Mar 22, 2009

caguy said:
...and there is no warning there about connecting and reconnecting the alternator while the motor is running.

Frank,

Thanks for the manuals link, very helpful.

There are really two questions here:

1. Connecting and disconnecting while running the engine (while rare, I suppose someone could remove the wiring at one end or the other when the engine is running - not a good idea in any event)

2. Running the engine with an alternator AT ALL without connecting it to the battery

These are two importantly different things, each needing some research. We'll let Manny read his new manual!

Thanks again for the link. (How'd ya get it so quick, or was I just lazy???

)

caguy · Mar 22, 2009

Stu, I downloaded my manual a couple of years ago and keep it on my hard drive.
On the older Hondas the charge cord plugs into the back of the boat. I was always under the impression that it was a no no to disconnect and reconnect the charging cord while running because, (I don't remember where ) I read it somewhere. I have always been careful about that especially after replacing the rectifier once ( not for that reason.)

Ross · Mar 22, 2009

Turning the battery switch off while an inboard is running is fatal for the alternator.